Fixture connector



July 4, 1939. w. WILSON FIXTURE CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 11, 193'! 8 Sheets-Sheet l INQITOR.

BY XMW July 4, 1939. w w|L$QN 2,164,366

' FIXTURE CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 11, 1937 8 s t .s 1; 2

INVENTOR.

July 4, 1939. w. WILSON FIXTURE CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 11, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 4, 1939. w. WILSON FIXTURE CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 11, 1937 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 V4 I: I

717 wfiw mg mm July 4, 1939. w. WILSON 2,164,366

FIXTURE CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 11, 1937 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 &t 7/1 W July 4, 1939. w, WILSON 2,164,366

FIXTURE CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 11, 1937 s Sheets-Sheet e July 4, 1939. w w 0 2,164,366

FIXTURE CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 11, 1937 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 July 4, 1939. r w wlLSCN 2,164,366

FIXTURE CONNECTOR Filea. Oct. 11, 1937 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for connecting and disconnecting electrical fixtures disengageably secured to a ceiling and has particular reference to apparatus for connecting and disconnecting a lighting fixture which has readily engageable electrical and mechanical connector means, for connection with a ceiling unit.

This application is a continuation in part, so far as common subject matter is concerned, of my co-pending application Serial No. 690,056, filed September 19, 1933.

An object of this invention is to provide a form of apparatus or tool and a form of fixture for co-operation therewith which will enable detachable ceiling lighting fixtures to be readily attached and detached, both mechanically and electrically, without the use of a step-ladder or the like.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, in which several forms of my invention are shown,

Figure 1 is a side elevaticnal view, partly in section, of the apparatus embodying the present invention and a form of fixture adapted to be connected and disconnected thereby;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the insulating base taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the bifurcated positioning end of the guide member;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the carrier arm for gripping the fixture to connect and disconnect the same;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the apparatus used in a modified construction;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the reflector secured to the elevated unit;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 10; Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a plan View of the apparatus used,

' showing it in position on the elevated unit;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the apparatus showing the elevated unit and reflector neck;

Fig. 12 is a section on the line l2 12 of Fig. 11;

60 Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing another form of the raising and lowering carriage;

Fig. 14- is a side elevaticnal view, partly in section, showing the lighting unit in position with respect to the elevated unit and showing part of the raising and lowering carriage;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the elevated unit of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a detail section substantially on the line iii-4% of Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the upper part 5 of the lighting unit;

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a connecting member to be permanently secured to the lighting unit;

Fig. 19 is a plan view showing another form of 10 tool;

Fig. 20 is a side elevational view of the tool shown in Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a side elevational view of an elevated unit for use with the tool of Figs. 19 and 20; 15

Fig. 22 is an axial sectional view showing another form of elevated unit and lighting unit;

Fig. 23 is a side elevational View showing apparatus to be used with the construction of Fig. 22;

Fig. 24 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 23;

Fig. 25 is a section substantially on the line 25-25 of Fig. 24; and

Fig. 26 is a somewhat diagrammatic View show- 25 ing the raising and lowering unit in position with the actuating mechanism on the crosshead.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, and first to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, there is shown a ceiling unit l, comprising an upper housing or 30 canopy member 2 in the lower portion of which is positioned a substantially cup-shaped insulating base 3 having a central tapered slotted opening 4 in the bottom thereof. Wiring terminals 5 are positioned within the insulating base 3, to which, 35 the lead wires 6 are connected. The wiring terminals 5 are electrically connected to and position the contacts 7, which are preferably spring contacts extending within the insulating base 3. The slot t has shoulder portions 8 on each side thereof, which are adapted to support a lighting fixture assembly, as will be hereinafter described. A lower housing 9 is engageable with the lower end of the upper housing 2 extending downwardly some di tance therefrom, and is provided with a central opening H] in the bottom thereof.

A plate member 5 i which is also provided with a central opening therein, is positioned above the lower housing 9.

The upper housing 2 is preferably formed with a reduced neck portion l2.

A lighting unit assembly is attached to the lower end of a hollow stem l3 and comprises the hood M in which is mounted a lamp receptacle, a reflector l5, and a globe I6. It is to be understood that the lighting fixture assembly is herein described merely for the purposes of illustration, as any other form desired may be employed equally Well.

The stem I 3 extends through the central openings in the lower housing member 9 and the plate II, which openings are vertically aligned. A horizontal supporting member or crosshead I 7 is secured to the upper end of the stem I3. The ends of the supporting member I! are formed on a bias so as to taper inwardly toward the bottom, as shown in Fig. l. The supporting member II, when in the position shown in Fig. l, rests on the shoulder portion 8, and thereby supports the lighting unit assembly. The width of the supporting member is less than the width of the slot 4 so that the supporting member may pass through the slots hereinbefore mentioned, which is done in attaching or detaching the lighting unit assembly from the ceiling unit.

In making the connection, the crosshead I1 is lined up with the fiaring entrance to the slot 4, the fixture stem I3 is pushed upwardly until the ends of the crosshead are above the level of the raised bosses I la and the fixture stem is then given a quarter turn clockwise, as seen in Fig. 2, to bring the ends of the crosshead into registration with the spring contacts I. The fixture stem is then allowed to drop down into the pockets in which the contacts I are located, thus establishing a reliable mechanical and electrical connection between the fixture and the ceiling unit. In making the connection, the plate II engages the lower face of the ceiling unit and as the fixture stem is pushed upwardly, the spring 20 is compressed between the plate II and the shoulder I9. This spring tends to urge the stem downwardly, thus holding the contacts I8 on the crosshead I! in engagement with the contacts I on the ceiling unit.

It has been found preferable to employ a ball joint 2! between the hood I4 and the lower end of the stem. With this construction, the connection between the ceiling unit and the light-- 2! is a collar portion 22, which is preferably formed with a corrugated or fluted surface so that it may be easily gripped for rotating the stem to connect or disconnect the lighting unit assembly from the ceiling unit.

For attaching or detaching the lighting fixture above described, or any other fixture having electrical or mechanical connector means, the following apparatus may be employed. This apparatus comprises a guide member 23 having a vertical handle portion 24 and a horizontal positioning portion 25.

The positioning portion 25 comprises a pair of spaced arms 26 between which is pivotally mounted a yoke member 2? which, when in position,

, straddles the neck portion I2 of the ceiling unit.

, tion of the arms 26 with the yoke permits similar movement of the handle portion 24 without disturbing the engagement of the rollers on the yoke with the ceiling unit.

With this construction, the yoke 21 may be slipped about the neck portion I2 of the ceiling unit and dropped down so that the pair of rollers 28 engage the sides of the cylindrical lower portion of the ceiling unit, the set of three rollers 29 resting on the horizontal annular surface so that the guide member as a unit may be easily rotated or swiveled about the ceiling unit without any danger of its becoming disconnected or getting out of adjustment. This swiveling movement is for use in effecting a quarter turn of the fixture for connecting it and disconnecting it with respect to the ceiling unit, as explained more in detail hereinafter.

A pulley 3! is mounted in the upper end of the handle 24 of the guide member 23, and a cleat 32, preferably of the spring variety, is fastened to the lower outer side of the handle portion 24.

A fixture carrier comprising an arm 33 having an opening 34 therein through which the handle 24 extends is adapted to slide up and down on the handle 24. The handle 25 of the guide member is preferably made square or non-circular, and the opening 34 in the arm 33 is similarly shaped so that the arm cannot rotate with reference to the guide member. Three wheels 35, 36, and 37 are mounted on the arm 33 so that the same will roll up and down the handle 24 of the guide member 23, the wheels 35 and 36 being positioned on the front and rear sides of the handle 24, and the wheel 37 being mounted on the downwardly extending portion 38 of the arm 33. A rope or cable 33 is fastened at one end to the ear portion 49 on the upper side of the arm 33 and extends over the pulley 3!; thence downwardly through an opening 4 I, which is adjacent the outer end of the arm 33, and is then fastened at the lower end to the cleat 32.

The outer end of the carrier arm 33 is bifurcated as at 32 so as to fit over the collar portion 22 on the stem I3 and engage the same in the manner of a wrench to enable the stem to be turned about its axis in connecting and disconnecting the fixture. The apparatus above described is used to disconnect the lighting fixture as follows:

The positioning portion 25 of the guide member 23 is positioned over the neck portion I2 of the upper housing member, the carrier arm 33 having been previously raised by means of the rope 39 above the lighting unit assembly. It is then positioned so that the bifurcated portion 42 engages the collar 22 on the stem I3. The cable 39 is then operated to lift the crosshead I! out of engagement with the pockets in which the contacts I are located. By rotating the guide member 23 through a arc, the supporting portion I1 is positioned parallel to the slot 4, after which the whole lighting unit assembly may be lowered by gradually easing the lower end of the rope 39, as the weight of the carrier arm and the lighting unit assembly will be sufficient to cause the carrier arm to slide down the handle 24.

In reassembling the lighting fixture with respect to the ceiling unit, a reverse series of opera tions is necessary. The fixture carrier 33 being in its lowered position and the forked portions 26 being properly positioned with respect to the ceiling unit, the collar portion 22 is placed in position in the seat formed by the bifurcations 42, the cable 39 is operated to elevate the fixture into proximity with the ceiling unit, and the handle 24 is swiveled about the ceiling unit to bring the crosshead ll into alignment with the flaring entrance to the slot 4. The fixture stem is then given a slight additional upward lift to bring the crosshead above the level'of the bosses I'la, the handle 2 is then swiveled through a quarter turn to bring the ends of the crosshead into registration with the pockets in which the contacts I are seated, and the carrier is then lowered to permit th contacts l8 to engage the contacts I and to disengage the seat 42 from the collar 22. The handle 24 is then disengaged from the ceiling unit, leaving the fixture in assembled and connected relation with respect to the ceiling unit.

By the construction shown and described, a detachable lighting fixture may be easily and quickly removed from its ceiling unit without the use of a stepladder or the like, thus saving time and energy in the operation.

Referring to the construction shown in Figs. 6 to 12, inclusive, the construction shown comprises an elevated unit 55 which may be suspended from a ceiling by means of the conduit a fixture unit 52 having readily engageable and isengageable mechanical and electrical connections with respect to the elevated unit, and a tool having means for engagement with the elevated unit 56 and having a raising and lowering carriage 53 for bringing the lighting unit 52 into and out of engagement with respect to the elevated unit 5&3. The lighting unit has a plug portion 54 having contacts for engagement with corresponding electrical contacts on the elevated unit 58 and has a pair of upwardly. extending ears 55 engageable and disengageable with respect to extending lugs 55: on a sleeve 51 swiveled in the elevated um't (Figs. 8 and 9). For effecting the slight swiveling movement of this sleeve necessary to eiiect engagement and disengagement of the laterally extending lugs 56 with the downwardly facing shoulders 58 on the ears 55, a pair of pins 59 are provided, secured to this sleeve 51 and extending through arcuate slots 60 in the body or hood portion of the elevated unit. When the pins 53 and laterally extending lugs 56 are in the position shown in Fig. 9, they are in position to hold the lighting fixture connected. When the pins are turned to move the sleeve 51 counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 9, the laterally-extending lugs are moved to disconnecting position with respect to the ears 55 on the lighting fixture. As will be pointed out hereinafter, the pins 59 are engageahle with an operating plate 6| on the crosshead 62 of the tool so that by movement of this operating plate 6! the swiveled sleeve 51 may be moved either to connecting or disconnecting position; also, as will be pointed out hereinafter, this operating plate 5! not only controls the connection and disconnection of the lighting fixture 52 with respect to the elevated unit 55 but also controls the connection and disconnection of the raising and lowering carriage 53 with respect to the lighting fixture 52.

The raising and lowering carriage 53 is moved up and down by means of a pair of cords 63 secured to the carriage 53 extending through openings in the crosshead 62 and over pulleys 64 in the crosshead. These two cords may be secured together after passing over the pulleys and connected with a single cord 65 passing over the drum mounted on one of the uprights or poles 61 secured to the crosshead 62. This raising and lowering drum is operated by a suitable crank 68. One pole am is hinged at the top to the crosshead 52 and provided with a locking hook 61b which permits it to lock the two bottom ends of the poles 6'! and 61a together, so as to provide easy transportation of the lowering device.

For connecting the raising and lowering carriage 53 to the lighting fixture 52, the ears 55 on the lighting fixture are provided with openings 69 for engagement with. the pins or arms 7 3 of a yoke member H which is slidably mounted in suitable openings in the carriage 53. This yoke member H has an upwardly extending pin 72 which engages an opening 13 in the operating plate 5i when the carriage 53 is raised up into engagement with the crosshead 62.

Before describing in further detail the structure, I will briefiy outline the operation. It will be assumed that the lighting fixture 52 is in connected position with respect to the elevated unit 50 and that it is desired to disconnect and lower the lighting unit 52 for purposes of cleaning or replacement and then to raise the lighting unit back into position with respect to the elevated unit 50 and to connect it with respect thereto, and thereafter to remove the tool from the elevated unit. For this purpose, the operator turns the crank 58 to draw the carriage 53 up to the crosshead 62, and operates the lever to enable the latch 15 to hold the drum 86 against rotation and to draw the cord '16 attached to the operating plate 6! to move the operating plate to the posiiion shown in Fig. 10. He then grasps the tool by means or" the two uprights 6i and slips the crosshead 62 into position above the elevated unit 59 and then downwardly over the elevated In this operation the upper part of the elevated unit 59 enters the circular opening ill in the crosshead, the opening 78 in the crosshead leading to the circular opening ll, enabling the passage of the conduit 5| therethrough. The crosshead is definitely positioned with respect to the elevated unit by means of the lugs 19 on the elevated unit which engage notches 85 in the crosshead. As the operating pins 59 are in connecting position, these pins can pass through the notches 85 in the crosshead. In the operation just described, the

carriage will be pulled up so as to lie snugly against the crosshead and held in this position by means of the latch 15 engaging a toothed wheel 82 rotatable with the raising and lowering drum 66. When the crosshead is finally positioned on the elevated unit, one of the operating pins 59 will lie between the upwardly-extending ears 33 on the operating plate 5|, as shown in Fig. 10. The general plane of the plate iii below this op ating pin 59 for a purpose to be explained later.

With the parts in this position, the operator moves the lever '54 counterclockwise away from stop Ma, which releases the cord which is holding the operating plate 6! against the tension of the coil tension spring 5 and also releases the latch 35 which is holding the raising and lower ing drum 65. When the operating plate leased to move under the action of the spring 85:, it acts first to connect the carriage 53 with the lighting fixture 52 and thereafter to disconnect the lighting fixture 52 from the elevated unit As previously explained, when the carriage is pulled up snugly against the crosshead the upwardly extending pin F2 on the slidable yoke ll engages the slot E3 in the operating plate This operating plate is guided in its movement by a link 85 pivotally secured at .36 to the 0 erating plate and pivotally secured 87 to the crosshead and by means of a pin extending upwardly from the crosshead into an L-shaped slot 89 in the operating plate. The position of the operating plate before release is shown in Fig. 10. When the operating plate is released by loosening up the cord 7'6, the first part of the movement of the operating plate will move it from the position shown in Fig. 10 to a position in which the guide pin 88 lies at the apex of the angle of the L-shaped slot 89. This first movement will cause the operating plate to move the upwardly extending pin I2 on the slidable yoke II to a position which will enable the connecting pins '59 to enter the openings 69 in the ears 55 on the fixture, due to the action of the springs 98, thus connecting the fixture 52 to the carriage 53. Further movement of the operating plate 6! will bring the pin 88 on the crosshead to the opposite end of the L-shaped slot and will cause a partial rotation of the fixture connecting sleeve 5? to disconnect the fixture 52 from the elevated unit 58, this movement being accomplished by the engagement of the upwardly extending ears 83 on the plate 6| with the laterally extending operating pin 59. The first part of the movement of the operating plate 6| will bring the fiat part of the operating plate underneath the pin 59 so that the tool cannot then be removed from the elevated unit. It will be noted that the construction is such that the lighting unit cannot be disconnected from the elevated unit until the lighting unit is connected with the carriage. This prevents any possibility of the lighting unit being dropped. This is because if pins II! should move forward to strike the face of 55 but fail to pass through hole 69 then 12 would prevent plate 6i from moving forward until pin 88 reached the apex of slot 89.

After the lighting unit 52 has thus been con-, nected with the carriage 53 and disconnected from the elevated unit 50, the lighting unit may be lowered by permitting rotation of the drumoperating crank 68 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 11. After the operator has done whatever is necessary with respect to the lighting fixture and is ready to connect it again with the lighting unit, he will turn the drum crank clockwise, as seen in Fig. 11, to raise the fixture into connecting position with respect to the elevated unit 50. As the fixture is raised the ears 55 on the fixture will come into the position shown in Fig. 8, the cords '63 guiding the fixture into proper position with respect to the elevated unit. When the fixture has been raised into connecting position, the operator turns the lever 19 in a clockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. 11, thus moving the operating plate 8i to the position shown in Fig. 10 and latching the winding drum 88, as shown in Fig. 11. The first part of the movement of the operating plate will rotate the connecting sleeve 51 clockwise, until it is in the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9, which will connect the fixture 53 with the elevated unit 59. The latter part of the movement of the operating plate ill will act on the pin '12 of the yoke II to withdraw the pins I8 from the holes 89 in the ears 55 on the fixture, thus disconnecting the fixture from the raising and lowering carriage. The latter part of the movement of the operating plate 6| also moves it from underneath the pin 59 so that the tool may then be removed from its position with respect to the elevated unit, leaving the fixture in connected position with respect to the elevated unit.

In order to insure registration of the connecting pins 18 with the holes '69 in the ears 55 on the fixture, a pair of coil compression springs 98 may be provided surrounding the elevating cords 68 and located between the carriage 53 and crosshead 83, which springs 98 will tend to press the carriage away from the crosshead as shown in Fig. 8 when the tension on the raising and lowering cords 53 is released, thus insuring that the pins I9 on the carriage will line up with the holes 59 on the ears on the fixture. It should be noted that it will be impossible to cause plate 5| to move to the released position until pin 59 moves to the locked position and in every respect the construction is fool-proof even though being operated by an inexperienced operator.

In Figs. 13 to 18 is shown a somewhat difierent form of elevated lighting unit and carriage. The carriage may be used with the crosshead and associated parts shown in Figs. 6 to 12, inclusive. In this form, the fixture is connected with the elevated unit by means of a latching action. For this purpose the elevated unit 9i is provided with a pair of pins 92 which is engageable by pivoted latches 93 mounted on a connecting ring 84 permanently secured to the lighting fixture 95. Suitable coil compression springs 98 are provided, acting between these pivoted latches 93 and the upper surface of the fixture 95 and tending to hold the latch members 93 in latching position, as shown in Fig. 14. The latches are mounted on suitable pivot pins 9'! on the connecting ring 95 which is secured to the lighting unit 95. The connecting ring comprises a pair of straps 98 which may be secured together and to the lighting unit 95 by means of screws or rivets 99 extending through ears I00 on the straps. The straps may fit about a reduced portion I 8i on the lighting unit, the upper edges of the straps lying beneath the annular shoulder I02 on the lighting unit.

The carriage I83 to which the lighting unit may be connected, shown in perspective in Fig. 13, comprises a strap-like frame portion, a pair of pins I04 slidably mounted in this frame for engagement with the lower edges of the laterally-extending loops I85 on the connector straps, and another pair of pins I88 slidably mounted in the carriage I 83 for engagement with suitable slots I9? in the loop portions I85 of the straps. The lower pair of pins I84 are used in raising the fixture 95 into position with respect to the elevated unit 9i and the upper pair of pins I86 are used for lowering the fixture away from the elevated unit. The upper set of pins I96 are secured to an operating yoke I08 which has an upwardly extending pin I89 corresponding to the pin 72 of Figs. 6 to 12, inclusive, which operating pin I89 engages the slot I3 in the operating plate 5i when the carriage IE3 is in raised position adjacent the cross-head 52. Suitable springs H8 are provided tending to hold the upper pair of pins I 88 in connected position. Also, suitable springs Iii are provided tending to hold the lower pair of pins I85 in connected position, as shown in Fig. 16. Means are provided, as shown in Fig. 16, whereby when the upper pair of pins we are moved to dis-connecting position, the lower pair hi l also will be moved to disconnecting position but whereby the upper pair of pins I98 may be moved to connecting position without causing the lower pair of pins I94 to be moved to connecting position. For this purpose, the operating yoke I88 is provided with a pair of downwardly extending fingers H2 secured to the upper pins I96 and having openings through which the lower pair of pins I 04 may extend, these fingers IIE engaging shoulders or collars I I3 secured to the lower pair of pins I04. Means are also provided whereby the lower pair of pins I94 may be held in releasing position when desired comprising a pair of leaf spring latch members H4 having U-shaped portions H5 for receiving the heads H6 of the pins, as shown in Fig. 13.

Before describing the construction more in de-- tail, I will briefly outline the operation. It will be assumed that the fixture 95 is in connected position with respect to the elevated unit 9I, as shown in Fig. 14, and that it is desired to disconnect the fixture from the elevated unit and lower it. It is further assumed that carriage I93 is pulled up in position against crosshead 32 and lever 14 is in the locked position thus holding pins I94 and I96 in the open position. The operator will then slip the crosshead into position with respect to the elevated unit, substantially as described in connection with Figs. 6 to 12, inclusive. The operator then turns the lever I4 counterclockwise from. the position shown in Fig. 11 to release the winding drum 69 and to cause the operating plate 6| to move the pin I99 lying in the slot I3 to a position in which the upper pair of pins I98 will move to connecting position underneath the extensions II? of the latch members 93 (Fig. 14) The leaf spring latches H4, however, will hold the lower pair of pins I 94 in withdrawn position. The operator will thereupon turn the winding drum I56 slightly clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 11, to bring the upper pair of pins I96 against the lower edges of the extensions Ill of the latches, thus releasing the latches from engagement with the pins 92 on the elevated unit. The slots H31 in the connecting ring 94 enable this unlatching movement of the latch members 93. The fixture is now supported by the upper pair of pins I96 in engagement with the lower edges of the lateral extensions ill on the latches and also upper edges of slot Iil'i. The fixture can now be lowered by permitting the winding drum 66 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction.

After the fixture has been serviced and it is desired to raise it again into connected position with respect to the elevated unit, the carriage I93 is connected with the fixture 95 in such a manner that the fixture will be supported by the lower pair of connecting pins I04. For this purpose the leaf spring detents H4 are operated to release the lower pair of pins I04 so that the fixture will be supported as shown in Fig. 16 by the engagement of the lower pair of pins I04 with the lower edges of the laterally extending loops I95 on the connecting ring 94.

With the fixture thus connected with the carriage, the winding drum 66 is rotated clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 11, to bring the fixture 95 into position with respect to the elevated unit 9|, as shown in Fig. 14. As. the upper end of the latch member 93 approaches the pin 92 on the elevated unit, its slanting surface H8 will strike the pin 92 and after the upper end of the latch is past the pin, the compression spring 96 will snap the latch member 93 over into the latched position shown in Fig. 14. When the fixture has been thus latched up to the elevated unit, the lever 54 is operated to cause the latching of the winding drum and to cause the withdrawal of b-oth upper and lower pairs of latching pins I06 and H34. The tool can then be removed from the elevated unit, as described in connection with Figs. 6 to 12, inclusive.

In connecting the fixture to the elevated unit, in order to prevent withdrawal of the latching pins I04 and I UG in the event that the latch members 93 do not properly engage the pins 92 on the elevated unit and thus prevent the fixture from being disconnected from the carriage unless it has made proper connection with the elevated unit, each upper connecting pin I06 is provided with a notch H9 which registers with an arcuate portion I20 of the latch member 93 when the latch pins I94 and IE5 are in locked position. This notch H9 enables the latch member 93 to oscillate when the notch I I9 is in alignment with the extension I20 on the latch member 93 and prevents withdrawal of the latch pin I96 when this extension I29 on the latch lies in the notch M9 on the pin. With this construction it will be seen that as the slanting surfaces N8 of the latch member 93 approach and strike the pin 92 on the elevated unit, the latch member 93 will be oscillated and the extension on this latch will enter the notch H9 on the pin I06 and prevent withdrawal of the pin in case the latch member should fail to snap over into the latching position shown in Fig. 14. This construction will therefore prevent withdrawal of the pins I98 and I94 connecting the fixture with the carriage unless the latch member 93 has snapped over to connect the fixture with the elevated unit. This will prevent accidental dropping of the fixture in case the latch members 93 fail to operate or through other faulty operation of the lowering device.

In Figs. 19, 20 and 21 is shown a construction in which the tool is not anchored with respect to the elevated unit but in which the fixture is first secured to a holder mounted on the upper end of the pole, the holder then being slipped up underneath and over the elevated unit, leaving the fixture in connected position with respect to the elevated unit. The fixture, and elevated unit as shown in Figs. 14, 15, i7, and 18, may be used with this tool. The tool shown comprises a funnel-like member I2I having an opening I22 on one side to enable it to be slipped off past the supporting conduit I23 of the elevated unit I24, a handle or pole I25 on which this funnel member I2I is mounted, two pairs of latch pins I28 and I 21 slidably mounted adjacent the funnelshaped member I2I, and means for controlling these latch pins comprising a rock shaft I28 rock ably mounted in the pole I25, an operating handle I29 for the rock shaft, and a link I30 connected at one end with the rock arm I3I on the rock shaft and pivotally connected at the other end with a yoke portion I32 connecting the upper pair of latch pins I21. Coil compression springs I33 surrounding the upper latch pins I21 tend to hold these latch pins in connecting position and coil compression springs 133a surrounding the lower pair of latch pins I28 tend to hold these pins in latching position. Means are provided for holding the lower pair of latch pins I29 in withdrawn position comprising leaf spring detents I34 similar to the leaf spring detents H4 shown in Fig. 16.

In using this tool, assuming that the fixture 95 of Figs. 17 and 18 is connected to the elevated unit, as shown in Figs. 14 and 15, and it is desired to disconnect and lower the fixture. The spring pins I21 are withdrawn from latching position by operating lever I29, the lower pins I26 being latched in unlatched position by the leaf springs I34; the funnel-like member I2I is raised and slipped laterally past the stem I23 which supports the elevated unit I24 and the funnel-like member is then lowered to cause the loop portions I95 of the connecting ring 94 to enter the recesses l35'in the lower edge of the funnel-like member. The funnel-like member will be guided and positioned in this movement by the engagement of the lateral projections I35 and I260. on the elevated unit 9i in the notch I31 and ISi-a in the funnel-like member. When the loop portions I of the connecting ring 9d have entered the recesses I35 in the funnel-like member, the lever I29 is operated to enable the springs I33 to force the upper latch members I21 underneath the extensions II'I of the latch members 93, the lower latch pins I 26, however, remaining in withdrawn position due to the leaf spring latches I3 3. The supporting pole is then pushed upwardly slightly to cause the latch pins I21 to lift up on the lateral extensions 1 of the latches 93, thus releasing the latches from the pins 92 in the elevated unit and causing the Weight of the fixture to be supported by the upper latch pins I21 on which the lateral extensions I I1 of the latches 93 bear. The fixture is thus disconnected from the elevated unit and is supported by the upper latch pins I21 in the funnel-like member. The pole I25 can then be manipulated to lower the funnellike member I2I, carrying the lighting unit with it.

After the lighting fixture has been serviced and it is desired to reconnect it with the elevated unit, the fixture is connected to the funnel-like member by means of the lower pair of latch pins I29 which will extend underneath the lower edges of the loop portions I95 of the connecting ring, the upper latch pins I96 extending through the slots I01 in the loops I55. The pole is then manipulated to cause the insertion of the latch members 93 into proper position with respect to the latch pins 92 on the elevated unit, these latches 93 snapping into place over the pins 92 to connect the lighting unit with the elevated unit. After this connection has been made, the latch lever I29 is operated to withdraw all of the latch pins I26 and I21, thus disconnecting the funnel-like member from the fixture. The f" nel-like member IZ'I can then be pushed upwardly above the elevated unit I24 and can then be moved laterally to disengage the funnel-like member from the elevated unit and its supporting stem I23, the opening I22 in the side of the funnel-like member enabling this manipulation. The funnel-like member 'I2'I can be made to flare out larger so as to make it still easier to re-install the fixture.

In Figs. 22 to 26, inclusive, is shown another form of elevated unit, fixture, and tool. In this form the lighting fixture can be connected to the elevated unit in any position of rotative adjustment and the tool may be applied to the elevated unit in any position of rotative adjustment.

Referring, first, to the fixture and elevated unit shown in detail in Fig. 22, the fixture shown comprises the shade or reflector I 38, a lamp socket I 39 secured thereto, concentric contacts I il and I I! electrically connected with the lamp contacts I42 and 143, respectively, for engagement with corresponding contacts I50 and I5I on the elevated unit M6, and a pair of spring-pressed latch members I41 for detachable engagement with an upwardly facingannular internal shoulder IE8 on the cup-like elevated unit. The elevated unit I 46 comprises a cup-like housing having an in ternally threaded portion I49 for connection with the supporting conduit, contacts I59 and ISI 'for for these contacts. Each of the spring-pressed latch members comprises a sheet metal member pivotally mounted on the lighting fixture at I53 it being loosely held between ring [5311 and the insulated socket base I39 at I53, and having a shoulder portion I54 for engagement with the annular shoulder M8 on the elevated unit and having a tool-engaging portion I55 for enabling disconnection to be made with respect to the evated unit. A coil compression spring I56 is provided, tending to hold the latch member M1 in latching position. The lighting unit is provided with a disc-like member I51 secured above the reflector neck, the edge of which disc is engageable with the raising and lowering carriage. This disc has openings I58through which the lower ends of the latch members extend and in which they operate.

The tool comprises a crosshead I59 which may have secured thereto crosshead supporting up rights I68 and I5I similar to the crosshead supporting members shown in Fig. 6. The fixture supporting carriage comprises an arcuate frame I62 having an opening I53 (Fig. 26) for the passage of the stem thatsupports the elevated unit I56 and provided with three inwardly-extending upper lugs I54 for engagement, with the upper surface of the fixture-supporting flange I51 and having a pair of pivoted latch members I55 for engagement with the lower surface of the fixturesupporting flange I51. The latch members are provided with springs I65 which tend to hold the latch members in latching position. Each latch member IE5 is also provided with an extension I51 for engagement with the downwardly-extending tips Ifiil of the operating links. I59 when the carriage is drawn up to the crosshead. The arcuate member I52 is also provided with an upwardlyextending abutment member I'Ill for'c-ooperation with a downwardly-extending arm I'II on a slide I12 mounted on the crosshead I59, as will be pointed out more fully hereinafter;

The crosshead is provided with pulleys I13 for the cords I14 which operate the raising and lowering carriage. It is also provided with a pulley I15 for-the cord I16 which operates the slide I12, this cord I16 corresponding to the cord 16 shown in Fig. 11 and being operated by a lever similar to the lever 14 of Fig. 11. This lever may cooperate with a latch for the winding drum, also as shown in Fig. 11. The crosshead is also provided with suitable guides I11 for the latch operating links I69 and with a rock arm I18 for operating these links. This rock arm I18 may be carried by the'upright IEI, which is rockably i mounted in the crosshead.

The slide member I12 is slidably mounted on the crosshead, as shown in Fig. 25. The upper portion of thisslide is mounted in a post I19 extending upwardly from a crosshead and an opening I88 in the annular collar portion IBI of the crosshead. A lower slide I82 is provided controlled by the upper slide I12 but mounted for movement relative thereto, this lower slide I82 being slidably mounted in openings in the post I19 and in the annular collar portion I 8| of the crosshead. This lower slide I82 extends through openings in the downwardly extending arms HI and I83 of the upper slide I12. A collar I84 is mounted on this lower slide I82, and a coil compression spring I85, acting between this collar I84 and the downwardly-extending arm I83,

tends. to hold the lower slide in the position shown in Fig. 25. On the c rosshead I59 are mountedtwo downwardly extending pins I86 which cooperate with the latch members I65 to prevent unlatching of the fixture from the elevated unit in case the latch members I65 are not in latching position with respect to the fixture and to prevent unlatching movement of the latch members I55 when the crosshead is slipped downwardly to unlatch the fixture from the elevated unit.

In use, assuming that it is desired to disconnect the fixture from the elevated unit, lower it, service it, elevate it, and again connect it with the elevated unit, the winding drum 65 is operated to raise the carriage I62 up against the crcsshead I59 and is then latched in this raised position by means of the lever 14, this latching ac. tion at the same time causing the withdrawal of the slide I12 against the tension of the spring I81. The operator then manipulates the uprights I58 and I6I which support the crosshead I59 so as to slip the crosshead over the supporting stem, the opening I88 in the crosshead permitting this operation, and the crosshead is then lowered to bring the annular collar portion I85 about the elevated unit until the downwardly extending arm I1I on the slide I12 engages the upper portion of the abutment I19 on the carriage E62 (Fig. Then the lever 14, which controls the winding drum latch 15 and the slide I12 on the crosshead, is operated to release the winding drum 66 and to allow the slide I12 to move inwardly. This initial movement of the slide I12 causes the downwardly-extending arm I1! to disengage the upper portion of the abutment I18, but the lower slide I82 does not move inwardly as it has dropped down so low that it engages the enlarged portion I89 of the elevated unit. The crosshead I59 thereupon drops down and thus brings the lower edge I65 of the annular portion of the crosshead into engagement with the extensions I55 on the latches I'l, thus causing the latches I41 to become disengaged from the annular shoulder I48 on the elevated unit.

If the latch members I61 have failed to move under the flange I51 of the fixture, the latch members I61 will lie directly underneath the pins 585 on the crosshead and will prevent the crosshead from dropping down far enough to unlatch the latch members I41, thus insuring that the fixture will not be unlatched from the elevated unit unless it has already been latched to the carriage I82. If, however, the latch members I61 have moved under the flange I51 prior to the dropping of the crosshead, the lower ends of the pins I81 will move down past the edges of the latch members I61 when the crosshead is dropped and will prevent unlatching movement of the latch members I61 in this position. When the fixture is thus released from the elevated unit, the flange I51 on the fixture drops down and rests on the latch members I55 on the carriage, the downwardly extending flange i9I on the disc I51 preventing unlatching movement of the latching members I65 by engagement or the upwardly extending portions I92 on the latch members I65 with this downwardly extending flange I9I. The winding drum 66 can then be operated to lower the fixture away from the elevated unit. The crosshead I59 remains supported on the elevated unit I45, the shoulder I93 of the crosshead resting on the shoulder I94 of the elevated unit.

After the fixture has been serviced and it is desir to raise the fixture and reconnect it with the elevated unit, the poles I60 and I6I on the fixture tool are raised to push the crosshead I59 upwardly until the lower slide I82 on the crosshead engages above the shoulder I54 on the elevated unit. The winding drum 66 is then operated to raise the carriage I62 and the fixture supported thereby into latching position with respect to the elevated unit I45 as shown in Fig. 25. In order to free the carriage from the fixture, the lever 14 on the pole is operated to latch the winding drum 66 and to pull the slide lit to the left, (as viewed in Figs. 23 and 25) to bring the downwardly extending arm I?! above the upper portion of the abutment I19 and to withdraw the lower slide I82 from engagement with the shoulder I94 on the elevated unit. This allows the crosshead to drop down until the downwardly extending arm I1I rests on the upper portion of the abutment I15, the weight of the crosshead I59 and carrier I62 being then supported by the lugs I64 on the fixture carrier, which lugs rest on the upper surface of the flange I5? on the fixture. The pole I6I may then be rotated to operate the rock arm I18 and links I59 to withdraw the latches I61 from latching position with respect to the flange I51 on the fixture. The supporting poles I60 and I6I may then be manipulated to raise the crosshead I59, carrying with it the supporting carriage I52 until the openings I88 and I63 in the crosshead and supporting carriage are opposite the supporting stem of the elevated unit I46, whereupon the crosshead and carriage may be moved laterally to free them from any connection with the elevated unit,

If by chance the fixture were not properly latched in the elevated unit M6, the weight crosshead I55 would cause the fixture to drop until shoulder I93 rested on I88 of the elevated unit. This action, together with the upwardly extending projections I92 on latches I61 engaging with the downwardly extending projection iili on ring I51, insures fool-proof operation in all possible circumstances.

It is obvious that the fixture I38 may be connected and disconnected manually Without the use of a tool. To disconnect the fixture manually, the operator grasps the neck of the fixture and presses inwardly on the downward extensions i thus freeing the latch members from engagement with the shoulder I48 of the elevated unit. The fixture can then be slipped downwardly away from the elevated unit to disconnect it.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is desired, therefore, that the invention be limited only by the prior and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1 l. A fixture construction for use in an elevated position above the reach of an operator on the floor and for use with a fixture connecting d disconnecting apparatus, said fixture compl a permanent unit having provisions for securin it permanently in an elevated position, and a detachable unit, said permanent unit comp wiring terminals and contacts, said detachable unit comprising lamp holding means and contacts for detachable engagement with the contacts of the permanent unit, means for securing detachable unit to said permanent unit comp ing latch means having a movable latch mounted on one of said units and a catch ber mounted on the other unit for engagement with said latch member, said permanent unit hav ing means for engagement with said connecting and disconnecting apparatus for positioning it,

said latch member having latch movement controlling means engageable with actuating means on said apparatus when said apparatus is positioned by said permanent unit.

2. A fixture construction for use in an elevated position above the reach of an operator on the fioor and for use with a fixture connecting and disconnecting apparatus, said fixture comprising a permanent unit having provisions for securing it permanently in an elevated position, and a detachable unit, said permanent unit comprising wiring terminals and contacts, said detachable unit comprising lamp holding means and contacts for detachable engagement with the contacts of the permanent unit, means for securing said detachable unit to said permanent unit comp-rising latch means having a movable latch member mounted on one of said units and a catch member mounted on the other unit for engagement with said latch member, said permanent unit having means for engagement with said cormecting and disconnecting apparatus for positioning it, said latch member having latch movement controlling means engageable with actuating means on said apparatus when said apparatus is positioned by said permanent unit, said detachable unit having means for detachable engagement with a raising and lowering carriage oi said apparatus,

3. A fixture construction for use in an elevated position above the reach of an operator on the floor and for use with a fixture connectin a d disconnecting apparatus, said fixture comp a permanent unit having provisions ior secuhng it permanently in an elevated position, and a detachable unit, said permanent unit comprising Wiring terminals and contacts, said detachable unit comprising lamp holding means and contacts for detachable engagement with the contacts of the permanent unit, means for securing said detachable unit to said permanent unit coil prising latch means having a movable latch member mounted on one of said units and a catch member mounted on the other unit for engagement with said latch member, said permanent unit having means for engagement with sa necting and disconnecting apparatus for pos .oning it, said latch member having latch movement controlling means engageable with actuating means on said apparatus when said apparatus is positioned by said permanent unit, said detachable unit having means for detachable engagement with a raising and lowering carriage of said apparatus, said positioning means comprising means for holding a carriage support of said apparatus against downward movement.

a. A fixture construction comprising an elevated unit and a lighting unit detachably secured thereto, said elevated unit having readily engageable and disengageable electrical contacts, and an annular shoulder, said lighting unit having electrical contacts readily engageable and disengageable with respect to the elevated unit contacts in diiierent positions of rotative adjustment and having a laterally movable latch member engageable and disengageable with respect to said annular shoulder in different positions of rotative adjustment, said latch member being provided With easily accessible tool engageable means for engaging a latch releasing tool.

5. A fixture construction comprising an elevated unit and a lighting unit detachably secured thereto, said elevated unit having readily engageable and disengageable electrical contacts, and an annular shoulder, said lighting unit hav ing electrical contacts readily engageable and disengageable with respect to the elevated unit contacts in different positions of rotative adjustment and having a. laterally movable latch member engageable and disengageable with respect to said annular shoulder in different positions of rotative adjustment, said latch member being provided with easily accessible tool engageable means for engaging a latch releasing tool, said lighting unit having carriage engaging means readily engageable and disengageable with respect to a carriage for raising and lowering the lighting unit with respect to the elevated unit.

6. A fixture construction for use in an elevated position above the reach of an operator on the floor and for use with a fixture connecting and disconnecting apparatus, which apparatus has a raising and lowering carriage and a carriage support, said fixture comprising a permanent unit having provisions for securing it permanently in an elevated position and a detachable unit, said permanent unit comprising wiring terminals and a mechanical connector member, said detachable unit comprising a reflector and a mechanical connector member for ready detachable engagement with said first mechanical connector mem her, said detachable unit having positioning means for detachable engagement with the raising and lowering carriage of said. apparatus, and said permanent unit having positioning means for detachable engagement with said carriage support for holding said carriage support against downward movement.

7. A fixture construction comprising an elevated unit and a lighting unit detachably secured thereto, said elevated unit having readily engageable and disengageable electrical contacts, and an upwardly facing shoulder, said lighting unit having electrical contacts readily engageable and disengageable With respect to the elevated unit contacts and having a laterally movable latch member engageable and disenga-geable with respect to said shoulder and said latch member being provided with easily accessible manually operable means for operating the latch to release the lighting unit from the elevated unit.

8. A fixture construction for use in an elevated position above the reach of an operator on the fioor and for use with a fixture connecting and disconnecting apparatus, which apparatus has a raising and lowering carriage and a carriage guide, said fixture comprising a permanent unit having provisions for securing it permanently in an elevated position and a detachable unit, said.

iii) 

